Jesse b



(NoMrodel.) l v 2 Sheets-#Sheet 1.

J. B. BUNDREN 8v L. P. CROSBY.

1.00K. j No. 557,963. n j. Patented Apr. '7, 1896.

(No Model.)

v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.` J'. B. BUNDRB'N &--L. IPLCROSBY.

LOCK.

Patented Apr. 7, 1896'.

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MMM. PHoToummwAsmNGwrl. D cv Nirnn STATES l ATENT trice.

JESSE B. BUNDREN AND LEMUEL P. CROSBY, OF I-IOLSTON, TENNESSEE.

LOCK.

SPECIFICATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,963, dated April '7, 1896. Application filed August l5, 1895.I SerialNo. 559,378. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JESSE B. BUNDREN and LEMUEL P. CROSBY, citizens of the United States, residing at Holston, in the county of Grainger and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to locks, and more especially to locks designed for use in connection with mail-pouches, satchels, sacks, and the like, but which may also be employed for locking purposes generally.

The object of our invention is to produce a lock of the type described combining great simplicity and efliciency with ease and rapidity in operation and security against. opening by unauthorized persons. y

To theseends our invention consists in the features and Ain the combination or arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims following the description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, wherein#A` Figure 1 is an elevation of one end of a inail-pouch with our improved lock applied thereto, the pouch being shown open. Fig. 2 is an end view thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the locking mechanism, a portion of the casing being removed and someof the parts being shown in section. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same, partly in section. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the lockingcylinder'and tumblers. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view illustrating the engagement of the latch with one of the'tumblers; and Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a plan view and side elevation, partly in section, of a modified form of locking mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 1 and 2 respectively indicate the two portions of a mail pouch or sack which it is designed to lock together, and to one of said portions, A

as 1, are secured staples or hasps 3, and to the other portion 2 is secured the locking mechanism, comprising a series of faces or frames articulated together and each provided with an aperture adapted for the reception of its corresponding hasp or staple,

and a Vfiexible locking-bar carrying springbolts for engaging said hasps or staples to prevent their withdrawal, which we will now proceed to describe in detail.

The cases or frames comprising the locking mechanism each consists of a rectangularmetallic box 4, having a base 5, turned up at vits opposite ends to close the ends of the box and provided with lateral ears or lugs 6 by means of which the boxes are riveted to the pouch. The sides of the boxes at each end are provided with projecting ears 7 and S, the ears 7 of one box overlapping t-he ears 8 of the adjacent box, and said ears are perforated and hinged to each other by pins or pintles 9. In the top of each of the boxes 4 is formed a slot 10, through which is adapted tobe inserted a corresponding one of the hasps or staples 3. A iiexible locking-bar passes longitudinally through all the boxes 4, and consists of a series of iiat metallic links 11, bent at their opposite ends to form hinge-eyes 12 and 13, the eyes 12 of one link registering with the eyes 13 of the next adjoining link and pivotally secured together by pins or pintles 14. Each of the links 11 is provided with a slotl, adapted to register with the slot 10, formed in the top of the box, and in line with said slot is secured a bearing-block 16, in which is arranged a longitudinally-movable bolt 17, having a beveled end 18, that is adapted to project over the slot to engage the hasp or staple inserted therethrough and normally held in such position by a coiled spring 19.

The end box 4fL is made longer than the other boxes of the series and is divided by a partition 20 into two compartments, in one of which is arranged the mechanism for locking the locking-bar against endwise movement, which will new be described. The end link 11 of the locking-bar is turned up at its extremity, and secured in said upturned portion is a hollow cylinder 21, which passes throughV a suitable aperture formed in the partition 20, and at its end is provided with a head 22, having a double inclined cam-face 23, the two inclined faces forming a V-shaped recess, as shown. A coiled spring 24 is ar- IOO ranged upon the cylinder 21, and at one end bears against the partition 20 and at its other end bears against the head 22 of the cylinder and operates to force said cylinder in the proper direction to move the locking-bar into locking position. A cylindrical tumbler24 is reduced at one end, and the reduced end is journaled in the hollow end of the cylinder 2l. The other end of the tumbler 24 is made longitudinally hollow, and journaled therein is the reduced end 25 of a corresponding tumbler 26, which at its other end is journaled in the end wall of the box 4a.

Each of the tumblers 24 and 26 is provided with a peripheral flange 27, which fits between wards 23, secured to the base of the boX 4. slotted upon its end, as at 29, for the reception of a key, (such, for instance, as shown in Fig. 4,) and, the tumbler 24 is provided with two reversely-inclined cam-faces 30, adapted to engage and register with the cam-faces 23 of the cylinder 2l. rlhe tumblers 24 and 26 are also provided with longitudinal grooves 3l, within which are adapted to fit the wards 32 of the key.

A latch is pivoted at one end to one side of the casing 4, and at its free end is provided with a hook 34, that engages the head 22 of the cylinder 2l and locks the lockingbar against endwise movement. The latch 33 is also provided with a lateral lug or projection 35, that is adapted to engage either of two grooves 36, formed in the opposite sides of the tumbler 24, and prevents the tumbler from being rotated, excepting only when the proper key is inserted and turned, upon which the tumbler operates upon said lug or projection and forces the latch out of engagement with the head 22, and upon the further rotation of the key in either direction the inclined cam-faced end thereof operates upon the correspondingly cam-faced end of the cylinder 2l and forces the latter, and with it the locking-bar, back, thus throwing the bolts 17 out of engagement with the hasps or staples. A spring 37 is arranged behind the latch 33 and operates to normally hold the latter in its engagement with the head 22.

In order to cause the hasps or staples to be automatically thrown out from the locking mechanism when they are disengaged by the bolts, we provide springs 3S, that are coiled about rods 39, and which are provided with yokes 40, that rest over and upon the hasps or staples and exert a constant pressure upon the latter in the proper direction to force them out of the boxes 4. It will be thus seen that immediately the locking-bar is forced back all the hasps or staples are automatically thrown out of engagement with the locking mechanism and the pouch is opened. To lock the pouch, it is only necessary to press the staples into the slots 10, when they will press back the bolts 17, which immediately thereafter are `snapped into engagement therewith.

In Figs. 7 and S we have illustrated a modified form of locking mechanism for prevent- The free end of the tumbler 26 is y ing the endwise movement of the lockingbar. When constructed as therein shown, the end of the locking-bar is bent up, as at 41, and provided with a rib or flange 42 against which abut the ends of coiled springs 43, which at their other ends abut against a partition 44, secured to the boX 4b, and operate to press the locking-bar in the proper direction to cause the bolts to engage the hasps or staples. Secured to the rib oriiange 42 is a hooked lug 45, having a beveled face, and normally engaging said lug is a pivoted latch 46, having a hooked end 47 that hooks behind the hooked lug 45 and locking against endwise movement. A spring 43 bears against the latch 46 and maintains the latter in its engagement with the said lug. A iiXed ward 49 is arranged between the latch 46 and a keyhole 50 and prevents 'the latch from being engaged by other than a properly-constructed key. The key when inserted in the keyhole and turned first engages the latch 46 and pushes the latter aside out of engagement with the lug 45, and it then engages the beveled end of said lug and forces the locking-bar back to cause the bolts to disengage the hasps or staples.

In both forms of locks shown, the lockingbar, in addition to being held in locking position by its spring or springs, is also positively locked by the pivoted latches, whereby said bar cannot be moved to disengage the hasps or staples until said latches have first been forced back by the employment of a proper key. Y

I-Iaving described our invention, what we claim is v 1. In a lock, the combination with a series of hasps or staples, of a movable locking-bar carrying bolts adapted to engage said hasps or staples, a spring for moving said bar in one direction, means for moving it in the opposite direction against the action of the spring, and a pivoted latch engaging said locking-bar and operating to positively lock the same against endwise movement, substantially as described.

2. In a lock, the combination with a series of hasps or staples, of a movable locking-bar carrying bolts adapted to engage said hasps or staples, a spring for moving said bar in one direction, means for moving it in the opposite direction against the action of the spring, a pivoted latch engaging said locking-bar and operating to positively lock the same against endwise movement, and a spring for maintainingv said latch in operative engagement with the lookin g-bar, substantially as described.

3. In a lock, the combination with a series of hasps or staples, of a movable locking-bar carrying bolts adapted to engage said hasps or staples, a spring for moving said bar in one direction, means for moving it in the opposite direction against the action of the spring, a pivoted latch engaging said lockin g-bar and means for disengaging said latch IOO IIO

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from the locking-bar and moving the latter endwise to release the hasps or staples, substantially as described.

4. In a lock, the combination with a series of hasps or staples, of a movable locking-bar carrying bolts adapted to engage said hasps or staples, a spring for moving said bar in one direction, means for moving it in the opposite direction against the action of the spring, a pivoted latch engaging said locking-bar and operating to positively lock it against endwise movement, means for disengaging said latch from the locking-bar and moving the latter endwise to release the hasps or staples, and springs operating to force said hasps or staples out of engagement with the locking-bolts, substantially as described.

5. In a lock, the combination with a series of hasps or staples, of a movable locking-bar carrying bolts adapted to engage said hasps or staples, a hollowcylinder connected to one endV of the locking-bar and provided With a cam-faced head, a cam-faced tumbler journaled in said cylinder and having a keyholeslot and Wards, a coiled spring arranged upon the said cylinder and operating to move the locking-bar to locking position, and a pivoted latch having ahooked end normally engaging the head of the cylinder to look the lockingbar against endwise movement and having a lug in engagement With the tumbler and operated by the latter to nnfasten the latch, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

JESSE B. BUNDREN. LEMUEL P. CROSBY.

Vitnesses VALERIA MURRAY, DENNIS MURRAY. 

